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May 15, 2025
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Fall 2025 Graduate Catalog
Microbiology and Immunology, PhD
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 Return to: Doctoral Programs
Degree Awarded: Doctor of Philosophy in Microbiology and Immunology
Chair: David Thanassi, Life Sciences Building 280C (631) 632-4549
Graduate Program Director: Nicholas (Nick) Carpino, Life Sciences Building 160 (631) 632-4610
Graduate Program Coordinator: Jennifer Jokinen, Life Sciences Building 130 (631) 632-8812
Department Website
Graduate study in Molecular Genetics and Microbiology offers a diversified course of study leading to the Ph.D. degree. The major areas of study are the basic mechanisms of viral, bacterial, and fungal pathogenesis, immunology, and cancer biology.
Studies are directed toward an understanding of cell biology, molecular genetics, immunology, and microbial pathogenesis and are designed to prepare a student to become an effective research scientist.
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Admission Requirements
Application Website Pre-doctoral trainees in Microbiology and Immunology are admitted to the Graduate School of Stony Brook University by application to the Program. In addition to the minimum Graduate School requirements, the following elements are considered when making admissions decisions: A. Undergraduate performance in science courses. B. Three letters of recommendation. C. Research Experience All students who are accepted into the Microbiology and Immunology Program are accepted with full support. The level of support for 2019 is $29,000 per calendar year plus full tuition scholarship. Health insurance is provided for all students as a fringe benefit. Degree Requirements
The predoctoral training program offers its students the opportunity to study questions in virology, bacteriology, mycology, immunology,biochemistry, cancer biology, and cell and developmental biology utilizing the experimental approaches of the molecular biologist and geneticist. Instruction and course planning involve faculty members from the Department of Microbiology and Immunology and selected members from the Departments of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Medicine, Pathology, Physiology and Biophysics, and Pharmacology, and from ColdSpring Harbor Laboratory. The general philosophy of the Program is that a successful research career in the diverse and heterogeneous area of molecular biology requires a broadly-based background, familiarity with at least all of the above areas, and a frame of mind that is receptive to new approaches. The Department of Microbiology and Immunology has an active seminar program of outside speakers who present topics relevant to Microbiology and Immunology, and there is a yearly retreat in which ongoing research in the Department and recent progress in the field are presented and discussed. This retreat is held early in the fall in order to introduce new students to the faculty, to other students, and to the areas of ongoing research within the Department. The Department also presents a colloquium periodically on human diseases, with outstanding scientists from throughout the world presenting their current work on the selected topic. Students in the program are encouraged to attend all of these programs as part of their training. In addition to the minimum requirements of the Graduate School, the following are required: Course Requirements
It is the policy of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology that a student must obtain a grade of B or higher in each course. The decision to have students who receive a final grade below 3.0 re-take a course will be made by the Program’s Executive Committee on a case-by- case basis. Notes:
*Students rotate through three different laboratories over the course of their first year. At the end of that year, students must identify and enter the laboratory in which they will conduct their graduate and dissertation research. Third Year Until Completion
Students register for HBM 599 every fall and spring semester until they advance to candidacy at which time they register for HBM 699 every fall and spring semester. Students registers for HBM 800 - Full-Time Summer Research every summer untilgraduation. Qualifying Exam
Exam Within 10 months of passing the qualifying exam, each student submits a written proposal of his or her dissertation research (similar to an NIH grant proposal) and orally defends the proposal before his or her dissertation committee shortly thereafter. Dissertation Proposal Exam
Within 10 months of passing the qualifying exam, each student submits a written proposal of his or her dissertation research (similar to an NIH grant proposal) and orally defends the proposal before his or her dissertation committee shortly thereafter. Advancement to Candidacy
After successfully completing all required and elective courses, the qualifying exam, and the dissertation proposal exam, the student will be recommended to the Graduate School for advancement to candidacy. Attendance and Participation in Student Seminar
Students are expected to participate actively in the departmental seminar series. Students who perform their graduate and dissertation research off-campus are expected to participate in a similar seminar series at their off-campus location. Ph.D. Dissertation
The research for the Ph.D. dissertation is conducted under the supervision of the dissertation committee, which is appointed by the Program and approved by the Dean of the Graduate School. A formal public oral defense of the dissertation is scheduled, at which the student presents his or her research and is questioned by members of the dissertation committee and other members of the audience. A closed oral examination before the dissertation committee follows the seminar. Teaching Practicum
It is expected that each graduate student completing a doctoral degree will have functioned as a teaching assistant during at least one semester of his or her graduate studies. Publication Requirement
All students must be the first author of at least one publication of original research in order to graduate. Students may schedule the dissertationdefense, with the approval of the dissertation advisor and advisory committee, once the first-author manuscript has been submitted forpublication. |
Return to: Doctoral Programs
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